DAVID Luiz's last-gasp free-kick earned Chelsea a narrow victory over Basle in the Europa League semi-final first leg at St Jakob Park.

Last season's Champions League winners went in front when Branislav Ivanovic - victim of Luis Suarez's bite - won a header which went in off Victor Moses, who claimed his third goal in as many Europa League games.

The visitors should have scored again prior to Fernando Torres striking the post before Cesar Azpilicueta was adjudged to have fouled Valentin Stocker and Fabian Schar converted an 87th-minute penalty.

However, Chelsea responded and Luiz's late intervention earned the advantage ahead of next week's return at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea, who had lost four of their five prior European away games, missed numerous chances and Luiz's shot skipped around the wall and inside the post after John Terry had been denied by goalkeeper Yann Sommer's point-blank save earlier in stoppage time.

Chelsea began the season in contention for seven trophies. The Europa League is the unexpected eighth and final shot at glory and it is conceivable the Blues could hold the Europa League and Champions League trophies at the same time.

Basle seemed determined to enjoy their maiden European semi-final - in contrast, the tie is Chelsea's seventh in 10 years - and the visitors were met with a raucous reception and energetic opponents.

Chelsea, playing in white, had to be patient as Basle started well before Azpilicueta raced down the right and crossed to the near post, where Lampard's prod towards goal was turned away for a corner by Sommer.

The Nigeria forward, who scored in each leg against Rubin Kazan in the last round, knew little about the goal, yet cartwheeled away in delight.

Petr Cech tipped over a serving shot from Schar before the impressive Ivanovic had to be careful to avoid conceding a penalty as Stocker nipped in front of him.

Basle were lively, with 6ft 6in captain Marco Streller the focal point up front. Streller appeared keen to celebrate his contract extension in style, but Ivanovic and Terry, supported by a retreating Luiz, dealt with the physical threat as Stocker buzzed around his strike partner.

Eden Hazard, playing centrally behind Torres, was doing his utmost to find openings in the Basle defence, but all too frequently Chelsea gave the ball away.

Torres twice had half-chances before Lampard found Ramires and the Brazilian's dipping shot from the right was saved well by Sommer.

The ball did not quite fall for Torres during a promising counter attack which finished with Hazard blasting over, and moments later the Belgian clipped it narrowly wide when played in by Moses as Chelsea missed the opportunity to add to their lead before the break.

Benitez, who has a mind for statistics, will have been aware that 11 of Basle's 16 prior Europa League goals had come in the second half, and his Chelsea side were almost made to pay for their profligacy three minutes after the restart when Streller and Stocker combined and the latter hit the base of the post with Cech beaten.

Chelsea soon had another chance and again Hazard was prominent. He rode the challenge of Philipp Degen and rolled the ball back for Torres to smash a left-footed shot off the inside of the post.

Much of the second half was disjointed and punctuated by mistakes as Chelsea were forced to repel repeated Basle attacks.

Fabian Frei shot narrowly wide from the edge of the box and Cole received a yellow card for time wasting at a throw-in before Aleksandar Dragovic was booked for a sliding challenge on Torres, meaning the defender will now miss the second leg.

Hazard made way for Juan Mata and Lampard was replaced by Oscar as Chelsea's search for a second continued to prove elusive.

Basle substitute Marcelo Diaz curled an effort narrowly wide and Cech collected at the feet of Mohamed Salah after the winger had been played in by Dragovic.

But Chelsea found themselves level when Azpilicueta was ruled to have hauled down Stocker in the area and Schar sent the ball down the middle of Cech's goal.

Oscar shot narrowly wide and Terry's header was somehow stopped by Sommer before Luiz took his chance from 25 yards to belatedly give Chelsea the advantage in the tie.